Ben Stolorow, a Bay Area pianist and composer, released his first album I’ll be Over Here (2008). Susan Muscarella, founder/director of Berkeley’s Jazzschool, CA, described it as a “beautiful and introspective body” that is reminiscent of great piano trios. Ben’s new album, Almost There (2011) brings back the sensitivity, lyricism, and intensity of his first album. It also has a new fire, emotion, and intensity. This is a reflection of Ben’s desire for freedom, release and renewal that he believes music can bring. Two Bay Area musicians Dan Feiszli (bass) and Jon Arkin (drums) are Ben’s companions on this album. The album is about a journey. As the title implies, the music takes you on a journey. Seven of the ten tracks are Ben’s original compositions. The rest of the tracks are versions of Thelonious Monk’s “Hackensack”, the standard “You and the Night the Music” and a bonus track entitled “Firefly”. Written and performed by Ben’s brother Stephanie Stolorow, with Ben accompanying. Ben spent years studying jazz piano and other great composers and pianists. This is evident in his compositions and playing of his new album. His music is full of the many influences that he has influenced, including Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, and Bach. Soon after graduating in 1998 from UC Berkeley, Ben was granted the Hertz Travelling Fellowship to study and live in New York by the music department. He has traveled to New York frequently since then and has had the opportunity to be guided by great contemporary pianists such as Fred Hersch and Stanley Cowell. Ben continues to practice Bach and other classical music and to study the great jazz composers and pianists. He continues to feel “almost there”, which drives him to continue to learn and to find his own musical voice. Ben, who moved to the Bay Area in 1994 from Los Angeles to study at UC Berkeley, has been a highly-respected jazz pianist in the Bay Area. He is both a leader as well as a sideman. He has performed at Yoshi’s and The Jazzschool as well as at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center and at the Healdsburg and SF Jazz Festivals. He also performed at Oakland’s Art and Soul Festival. He has also toured Japan and performed. Akira Tana and Danya Stephens were among his many musical collaborators. Ben is also an instructor at the Jazzschool in Berkeley (CA). from http://www.benstolorow.com
